I was in a relationship that I once thought was “it” but realized was going nowhere. Within a few months we went from meeting to wanting to get married to me no longer feeling wanted or appreciated for anything more than being a warm body on a cold night. Thoughts of ending things ran through my mind every day and those closest to me knew it was only a matter of time before I had reached my limit. I was trying to be optimistic but I could see the end was near.

The day was a special day. It was my birthday. Not a milestone birthday but still the day to recognize and celebrate the fact that I entered the world. Due to how I felt in the relationship I had decided weeks before that this day would be a test. I had decided that if I was not recognized and appreciated on my birthday that THAT day would be the end of it.

Things didn’t look promising because the day before my birthday we’d had a big argument about the state of our relationship and it hadn’t ended well. After the argument we made plans to celebrate my birthday the next day but, really, I was more inclined to call it quits than to spend MY day dealing with drama. In the moment I just kept that thought to myself.

I woke up on my birthday determined to have a good day. I decided that I would not let anyone or anything cause me displeasure on my special day. I CHOSE to be happy, by any means necessary. Happiness filled my day from the early morning breakfast celebration with my co-workers at the office to my family having gifts and cards ready after work; my little cousin even did a little dance for me as the card she gave me played a song. It was a good day. When he arrived to pick me up for dinner I was so filled with the happiness that I chose to have that day that I had completely forgotten about our issues and the argument that had occurred just 24 hours before. We went to dinner, had a wonderful time, and even continued to talk about our future together. That was the last good time we had and within a few weeks things had ended.

I share this story to illustrate the power of the mind and that happiness is a choice. Right in the middle of unhappiness, discontent, and feelings of dissatisfaction I somehow found a way to genuinely enjoy myself in a situation that was causing me strife. I chose happiness and, as a result, a hopeless situation gave me joy, even if only for a short time.